European Medicines Agency (EMA) early review the form to authorise the COVID-19 vaccine

The European Union’s drugs regulator on Thursday set an extraordinary meeting earlier next year to bring forward the assessment of Moderna’s coronavirus vaccine.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) will now appear earlier than planned on January 6 to review the form to authorise the COVID-19 vaccine. It was initially scheduled for January 12.

It comes as EU chief Ursula von der Leyen established European countries would begin shooting people against coronavirus on December 27.

“It’s Europe’s moment. On 27, 28 and 29 December, treatment will start across the EU. We protect our residents together. We are #StrongerTogether,” she tweeted.

At a midday press seminar, an EU spokesperson said vaccines would start being given to post states on December 26.

The announcement was also made just days after the EMA said they would again move up their committee meeting to December 21 to conclude their evaluation of a conditional buying guide for the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer/BioNTech.

The announcement by von der Leyen came soon after German health minister Jens Spahn said the country would open its vaccination campaign on December 27.

Brussels has indicated that although member states are to receive the vaccine — made in Belgium and Germany — on the same day, it will be up to them to organise and coordinate their own security campaign.

The European Commission (EC) had urged member states to get ready in October by ensuring they could store and transport it properly and have the necessary medical staff and facilities to carry out to procedure.

The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine needs to be put at -80°C and requires two shots three weeks apart to be useful.